BRITISH AIMS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20954, 6 November 1939, Page 7

BRITISH AIMS

A WORTHY PEACE FREEDOM FOR PEOPLES AMITY AND CONFIDENCE (Official Wireless) (Received Nov. 6, 1 p.m.) RUGBY, Nov. 5 In Parliament Mr Chamberlain and Viscount Halifax have declined to undertake a closer definition of the “war aims” than are already available in their own speeches and statements, and have urged objections to an attempt to state the British aims in detail at present while there is great uncertainty as to the length of the war and conditions in Europe afterwards. In view, however, of the renewal of Nazi insinuations that one Britiab war aim is the partition of Germany, passages in Mr Chamberlain’s speech on October 12 are recalled. He said* “It is no part of our policy to exclude from its rightful place in Europe a Germany which will live in amity and confidence with other nations. On the contrary, we believe that there is no effective remedy for world peace that does not take account of the just claims and needs of all countries.” Also: “We desire nothing from the German people which should offend their self-respect, “and, I am certain that all peoples in Europe, including the people of Germany, long for peace—a peace which will enable them to live their lives without fear and devote their energies and gifts to the development of culture, the pursuit of ideals, and the improvement of material prosperity.” End Rule by Force In a speech to-day, Mr A. Greenwood, deputy-leader of the Labour Party, said: “Britain declared war with the firm purpose of ending forever the torture of other nations by dictatorship. Although the decision involved great sacrifices a refusal would have meant the sacrifice of human freedom. “The wastage of life and treasure was the price which has to be paid to rid the world of the scourge of the inhuman dictatorship which was eating into the vitals of Christian civilisation. Britain could not ignore the challenge whether freedom or brute force should prevaiL There is no doubt about the result. “But when the war is over we shall see that there is freedom not only for ourselves but for the German people and all other peoples. It shall be a peace without rancour against other peoples and without territorial and political ambitions, a peace worthy of the sacrifices which have been made.”